Merry-go-round



0f- 21,1941 R. H. HARRIS l A 2,259,691

MERRY-GO-ROUND Filed Nov. 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO R N EYS R'. H. HARRIS MERRY Oct. 21, 1941.

-GO-ROUND Filed NOV. 25, 1940 5 'Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTc RNEYS Oct. 21, 1941.

MERRY-Go-ROUND i INVENTOR 6%? v www Mm. Y@ WITNESS ATTORNEYS R. Hf HARRIS 2,259,691 i Oct; 21, 1941..

R. H. HARRIS MERRY-GO-ROUND Filed NOV. 25, 1940 1 5 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR W' E" ,t'a wma/Y ATTORNEYS POLE ROTATING IN OPPOSITE DI ?ECTION.

oct. 21,1941. RH. HARRIS 2,259,691

` MERRY-Go-ROUND Fild NOY. 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 SEAT SHAFT TURNING SLOWER AND IN OPPQSITE 2 DIRECTION fro POLE SEAT SHAFT TURNING RELATIVELY FAST AND 1N oPPosITE omecnou -roTHA-r oF POLE SEAT SHAFT TURN ING AT A SPEED APPROXIMATELY MmwAY oF F165. 12 81 1a.

' SEAT SHAFT RorATmc-z sLowLY 1N RE- y a A-r|o- To AND 1N me SAME Dmecna AS POLE.

SEAT' HAFT RDTATING FASTER THAN IN FIG.15 AN D IN SAME DIRECTION A5 pOLE Patented Oct. 21, 1941 UNiTED 'rss PATENT oFFlCE MERRY-GO-ROUND Richard H. Harris, Hapeville, Ga. Application November 25, 1940, Serial No. 367,119

s claims. (o1. 27a-37)' This invention relates to merry go rounds of the whip type in which the seats travel in serpentine paths, thus giving a waltzing or scrambled sensation or thrill to the passengers while promoting an elusive, interesting spectacle to spectators.

An object of the invention is to provide an v amusement device of this character in which there are three annular seat units arranged in the form of a triangle around a center pole, each seat unit preferably comprising four passenger seats arranged at an angular distance of 90 from each other, and having its own axis of rotation, all of the seat units being rotated in a planetary path around a central axis of rotation, three seat units arranged in the form of a triangle being found in actual practice to better balance the device than a greater or less number of seat units.

A further object is to provide in an amusement device of this character, an axis of rotation for the individual seat units canted inwardly toward the pole, and having the individual seats of each unit canted inwardly toward said axis of rotation, so that centrifugal force and gravity will balance each other when the machine is in motion and promote smooth operation and more particularly to give the passengers a sensation of stability, rather than one of being hurled from the seat.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having friction clutches forming slip connections in the drive shafts of the seatJ units to prevent stripping of the driving gears and twisting off of the shafts, ordinarily caused by the whipping action produced when a seat unit is unbalanced, as for example, when' one seat in the seat unit is occupied while the other seats are vacant.

A further object is to provide in a device of this character, a single set of ball bearingsat the top of the center pole for supporting the entire rotating structure.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a rotating tube carried by the tcp bearing and sleeved on the center pole, the tube carrying all of the rotating structure and being reinforced against side sway by a cylindrical bearing formed at the bottom of the pole.

A further object is to provide in a device of this character, motion transmitting means actuated by a conventional internal combustion `engine and controlled manually to effect variations in both forward and reverse speeds of the main central axis of rotation, and the individual axes of rotation of the1seat units, in order to cause the seats to travel a great variety of different ellipsoidal and cusp paths. c

A further object is to provide-al device of this character, having a loading platform of annular contour for each seat unit, a central platform accessible to the seat unit platforms, and ramps leading tothe central platform. V

A further Objectis to provide in 'adevice of this character, a friction drive and brake at the engine for operating the driving shafts for.V` the central axis of lrotation and the axes of rotation of the seat units, to absorb shocks and jars, eliminate breakage and tofacilitate changes in speed and direction of the `seats being gradually accomplished to promote safety. A

A further object isto provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and Which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in View, the

invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims withflout departing fromV the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages ofthe invention.

In `the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification? Figure lis a plan -view ofa merry go round Yoi the whip or waltzing-type, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is aside elevation, with parts in section, of a portion vof the amusement device showing one of the seat units, vand the parts associated with the center pole.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View, with parts broken away, and drawn to an enlarged scale, showing the central axis of rotation for all of the seat units and one axis of rotation for an individual seat unit, and the driving means for each.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, drawn to an enlarged scale to show the ball bearings at the top of the center pole upon which the weight of the apparatus is supported. f

Figure 6- is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 6-.6 of Figure 1, showing the ball bear- Figure 8 is a sectional view showing the platform, remote control operators seat, internal combustion engine, and controls therefor for actuating the amusement device.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 8, showing the brakes and friction drive for the motion transmitting mechanism of the amusement device.

Figure 10 is a side elevation, with parts in section, showing one of the seats.

Figure 11 is a cross sectional View taken on the line II-II of Figure 10.

Figures 12 to 16, inclusive are diagrams illustrating a few of the vast number of respectively different paths of travel of a single seat.

Figure 17 is a detail perspective View showing a spacing element for two of the main driving shafts.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, I0 designates a tubular center pole which is uniformly enlarged at the lower end to form a bearing II, and at the extreme bottom is supported upon a lower base plate I2 through the medium of a clamp ring I3 which is bolted tothe base plate, as shown in Figure 3. For anchoring the pole stationary in vertical position, a plurality of I beams I 4'are bolted to the lower base plate I2 and to an upper base plate I5, the pole being also secured to the upper 'base plate by a clamp ring I6 which surrounds the pole and is bolted to the upper base plate. The I beams extend radially along the ground and prevent tipping over of the pole.

As best shown in Figure 5, the upper end of the pole is provided with a cylindrical housing I1, the skirt of which loosely receives the top of the pole, and the closed top of which loosely receives a reduced extension I8 which projects vfrom the top of the pole. Ball bearings I9 are interposed between the top Vof the housing and a shoulder 20 formed on the pole at the base of the projection I8 and form thrust bearings as well as promote anti-friction turning of the housing on the top g of the pole.

A tube 2I is sleeved upon the pole and a bushing 22 is interposed between the bottom of the tube and the bearing I I of the pole to prevent side sway of the tube. The tube is suspended from the top of the pole through the medium of rods 1 ported upon the closed top of the housing I1.

The lower ends of the rods are connected to a flange 26 which extends outwardly from the top of the tube and which is braced by inclined braces 21. The tube, the rods, and the cap plate turn as a unit on the center pole and form a center axis of rotation for the seat units.

As best shown in Figure l, there are three seat units equally spaced from each other and from the center pole and arranged in the form of a triangle with the center pole at the center thereof to properly balance the device.

Each seat unit comprises a shaft 28 which is journalled in a bearing plate 29 having a recess 30 formed in the bottom to receive ball bea-rings 3|, which latter are held in place by a flange 32 onthe shaft engaging the bottom ofthe bearing plate, as best shown in Figure 3. The shaft extends upwardly and is canted', or inclined inwardly, toward the pole I0. As best shown in Figure 6, the top of the shaft is rotatably mounted in a two-piece housing comprising a cup section 33 which surrounds the shaft, and cap section 34 which is secured to the upper end of the shaft by a screw 35 or other connector, and which coacts with a retainer disk 9 carried by the shaft, to retain ball bearings 36 in the cup section.

The bearing plate 29 at the bottom of the shaft is carried by a skeleton arm 31, best shown in Figure 4, formed of spaced longitudinal rods or tubing 38 connected by the transverse braces 39. The -rods of the skeleton arm are connected at the inner ends to a plate 40 which is xed to the bottom of the tube 2|, preferably the arms being engaged in tubular sockets 4I carried by the plate and secured therein by tapered pins 42. Inclined braces -43 extend from the tube to the plate to reinforce the plate against distortion.

The two piece housing for the top of the shaft is rigidly secured to the cap plate 24 by downwardly inclined suspension rods 44, best shown in Figures 1 and 2, which are connected to the cap plate by tapered pins 45, or other connectors, as best shown in Figure 5. The lower ends of the rods are connected to the cap section 34 by pins 43, best shown in Figure 6. A skeleton arm 41, similar to the skeleton arm 31, above described, but of lighter construction, is secured in any 4preferred manner, to the cup section 33 of the housing and at the inner end is secured by tapered pins 48 or other connectors in sockets 49 carried by the flange 26 at the upper end of the tube 2|, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It will be observed that the shaft 28 is supported at the top by the two piece bearing, which bearing is suspended from the cap plate 24 which rests upon the ball bearings I9 at the top of the pole I 0. It will be also pointed out that the bearing plate 29 in which the bottom of the shaft 28 is rotatably mounted, is in reality supported by theshaft 28 and is spaced from and connected to the tube 2| by the skeleton arm 31. Thus, the seat unit is suspended in its entirety from the top of the pole IIJ and turns as a unit with the tube 2|, as will presently be explained, in a planetary path around the center pole I0.

As best shown in Figure 3, a bevel gear 50 is secured to the lower end of the shaft 28 and meshes with a bevel pinion 5I' carried by an operating shaft 52 which is journalled in the bearing plate and is rotated, as will be presently described, to rotate the shaft 28. Preferably four seats 53 are secured at the outer ends of respective supporting rods 54, which extend in a radial direction toward the bottom of the shaft 28 and are secured by tapered pins 55 in sockets 56 carried by a plate 51 which is xed to the top face of the bevel gear by set screws 58. 'I'he seats are spaced an angular distance of apart and are canted, or inclined toward the shaft 28 which forms the axis of rotation for the seats.

Each seat is braced by a pair of downwardly inclinedbrace rods 59 which are connected at the other ends to a conical disk 60, which is secured to the shaft 28 underneath the two piece bearing housing, as best shown in Figure 6. The lower ends of the brace rods are connected to the seats in any preferred manner. The seats are held spaced an equal distance apart by guy rods 8| which extend from seat to seat, as best shown in Figure 1. As also shown in this gure, the seat units themselves are maintained equally spaced apart by guy rods 62 which extend from the two piece housing at the top of one shaft 28 to the two piece housing of the next adjacent shaft 28.

` An annular platform 63 is disposed concentric side of the device, and an exit ramp 66 extends to the central platform from another side of the device.

Each seat may be rigidly mounted on vthe supporting rod 54. However, if desired, as shown in Figures and l1, the seat may be provided with rollers 61 which are received in an annular track 68, which is secured vto a plate 69 having socket members 10 which receive the rod 54. fThevadvantage of the rollers and track 'is that the seat can also rotate on its supporting arm to cushion the occupant against shocks and jars due to a change of speed or direction ofthe seat unit.

For rotating the seat units on their individual axes of rotation and at the same time rotating the seat units in a planetary path around vthe center pole, an internal combustion engine 1| is located a short distance from the amusement device and is disposedunderneath' a platform 12, upon which is mounted an operators seat 13. The enginevis supported upon a box-likeframe formed of I beams 14. The shaft ofthe engine is equipped with a driving pulley 16, best shown in Figures 8 and 9. A pair of primary drive shafts 11 and 18V extend loosely through openings in the front and rear I beams and at the front ends are connected to respective conventional motor vehicle transmissions 19 and 80, shown in Figure 1, which are bolted to the front I beams, and are controlled by gear shift levers 5 and 1. The rear ends of the primary drive shafts are equipped with respective friction wheels Bland 82 adapted to engage the driving pulley 16 and be driven thereby to rotate the primary drive shafts.

Respective control levers 83 .and 84 are piv oted at the lower ends, as shown at 85 and 86, in Figure 9, to the rear I beam and are provided with respective bearing hubs 81, one of which is shown in Figure, toA receive vthe primary drive shafts. YWhen the operator shifts either of the levers 83 or 84 toward the driving pulley and holds it there, therespectivefriction wheel 8| will engage the driving pulley and be driven thereby, the respective shaft 11 fitting there-A spective openings in the I beamsloosely enough to permit this shifting movenient.

A pair of arcuate brake shoesf and 89 are provided with respective longitudinally slotted arms 90 and 9|, through 4which `adjusting bolts 92and 93 are engaged and secured to the rear I beam. When the levers 33 and 84 are moved toward the brake shoes, the friction wheels 8| y and 82 will engage the brake shoes so that rota-` tion of the primary drive shafts will'be slowed down and then stopped.

Two main driving shafts94 and 9.5, shown in Figures l, 2V and 3, are connected at the rear ends to the respective `transmissions 19 and 80 base plates |2 and |5, as best shown inFigure 3.

A gear |0| is mounted loose on the bearing of the center pole |0`and is supported upon the clamp ring ||.'L The gear has peripheralgear teeth which mesh with a pinion |02`mounted on a stub shaft |03, which enters the 'gear case 91 and is connected tothe main drive shaft l94 by meshingbevell gears |04. 'I he gear |0| is also provided with gear teeth yon the top face, which mesh with apinion |05 carried by the inner end of each of the three operating shafts 52 of the seat units, said inner end ofthe operating shaft being secured'to the plate 40, which revolves as a unit with the tube 2|, by spaced bearings y |06. When the lever 83 is shifted by the operator to bring the, friction wheel 8|V into driving engagement with the pulley 16,'the gear |0| will be rotated and rotate the shaftv 28 of each seat unit through the shaft 52, pinion 5| and pinion |05 of the respective unit. "'The transmission 19 permits the seat units to be rotated at least three different forward speeds and one reverse speed. I To prevent stripping of the driving gears and twisting off of the shafts,"the operating shaft 52 of each seat unit' is'provided with a friction clutch` |01, best shown in Figure?. The shaft 52 is severed transverselyadjacnt to the pinion |05. A 'clutch disk |08 is provided with a hub |09 which 'is secured to neof the sections by a tapered pin 0. A clutch disk is provided with a hub ||2 which is loos e on the othersection of the shaft, and the tlast named section is provided with a disk head It"- integral therewith disposed between both clutch disks. Both clutch disks are recesses on their innerV faces to loosely receive respective friction Vrings ||4 and ||5 which engage opposite faces' of the disk head ||3. Elongated bolts ||6 are engaged through the clutch disks and helical compression springs ||1 are sleeved on the bolts and bear against the clutch disk `to yieldably hold the friction rings 4|I4.-| I5 in driving engagement with the disk head H3. f y v Y WhenY a seat unit isunbalanced, as for example, when one seat in the unitV is occupied while the other' seats are vacant, a Whipping action is produced by change of speed and direction, and when this occursv the friction. clutch of the unit will slip sufficiently to prevent stripping of the gears and twisting off of the shafts forming the driving medium of the unit.

For rotatingthe, tube 2| to move all `of the seat units in a ,planetary path around the center poleas an axis of rotation, a gear H8 is bolted to the plate 40, as shown at H9. The `gear hasvperipheral gear teeth which mesh with a pinion |20 carried by. a stub shaft which enters the gear case 98 and" is geared to the drivingshaft `95 which yextends to the transmission 80. Y. n

The tube 2| is adjustably hung from the cap 4plate 24 at the top of the pole by the rods 23 which have nuts I 2| bearing on theunderside of the ange 26, which nuts may be adjusted to raise or llower the flange' to correspondingly raise or lower thetube and cause the pinions to properly mesh with the gear `lill on the pole. ,'I'his adjustment also provides a means for making necessary adjustments from time 'to time to compensate for Wear.

Abushing |22 is interposed between the upper end of the tube 2| and the po1e I u, similar to the bushing 22 at the bottom of the pole. This bushing transfers the great thrust load to the pole l0, imposed upon the skeleton arms 41, due

turning on the center pole as an axis-of yrotation, is obtainable by manipulation of the levers 831-84 and transmission levers 6 and 1. Variation of speed and direction accomplishes a wide variety of paths which a seat travelsv with respect to the center pole. Figures 12 to 16 illustrate iive different paths and since the diagrams display legends indicating the speed conditions existing'at the time a seat in traveling a particular path indicated by the arrows 23, making from one to three or more turns around the center pole rotating inthe direction indicated by the arrows |24, it .is thought unnecessary to repeat the legends, it being sufficient to explain that each seat may be caused to travel a large number of different ellipsoidal paths and cusp paths, as Well as combinationsY of both these types of curved paths. In addition each individual seat 53 may rotate on its own axis formed by'a pivot pin |23 carried by the seat and engaged in a socket member |24. carried4 byY the base plate 69 of the seat.- f Y f From the above description mit' is thought Athat the construction and operation' of. the invention will be fully understood without further explanation. j '1 f f Whatis claimedis: 1. In a merry go round of the whip type, a stationarycenter pole, a tube loose on the pole. means having antifriction connection with the top of the pole suspending the tube on the pole, a plurality of seat unit shafts spaced equi-distant laterally of the pole, means having antifriction connection with the top of the shafts suspending the shafts from the tube for planetary movement upright position aroundv the pole, means connecting the seat unit shafts -at the bottom to the tube, a plurality of seats in each unit spaced at an angular distance of about 90 apart supported froml the. bottom ofthe respective seat unit shaft, the seats being movable in ,a circular path-around the seat unit shaft when the shaft` is rotated axially, means for rotating the seat unit shafts asa unit at various selected forward and reverse speeds, and means for rotating the tube at various forward and reverse speeds. Y

2. The structure as of claim. 1 and in which the seat unitshafts are canted inwardly toward the pole and the seats of each seat unit are canted inwardly toward the respective seat .unit shaft so that centrifugal force and gravity will balance each other when the machine is in motion and promote smooth operation as well as give the passengers a sensation of stability.

3. The structure as of claim 1 and in which in the. next to the last named means friction clutches are incorporated to provide slip connections to prevent stripping and twisting off of members of the means.

4. In a merry go round, a stationary center pole, a tube loose on the pole, means suspending the tube from the top of the-pole,I seat unit shafts spaced laterally from the pole in upright position, means suspending the shafts from the top of the center pole and from the tube to rotate in a planetary path around the center pole, a plurality .of seats in each seat unit supported from the bottom of the respective seat unit shaft, said seats being movable in a circular path aroundthe seat unit shaft when the shaft is rotated axially, respective motion transmitting shafts geared to the seat unit shafts, a gear loose on the pole, pinions on the motion transmitting shafts meshing with said gear, friction clutches forming slip connections in the transmitting shafts, a gear fixed to the tube, respective driving shafts geared to said gears for rotating the seat unit shafts axially and for rotating the tube axially, an internal combustion engine, automotive vehicle transmissions connected to respective driving shafts, and friction drive means connecting the engine to both transmissions.

5. The structure as of claim 4 and in which said seats each includes a supporting plate, a. pivot pin carried by the seat, a socket member carried by the plate, a circular track on the plate concentric with the pivot pin, and rollers on the bottom of the seat engaging the circular track, each individual seat being rotatable on its own axis formed by the pivot pin and the socket member.

6. In a Vmerry go round, a stationary center pole, a tube loose on the pole, means suspending the tube from the top of the pole, seat unit shafts spaced laterally fromthe pole in upright position, means suspendingA the shafts from the top of the center pole and from the tube to rotate in a planetary path around the centerpole,fa plurality of seats in each seat unit supported from the bottom of a respective seat unit shaft, said seats being movable in a circular path around the seat unit shaft` when the shaft is rotated axially, means for rotating the seat unit shafts axially, means for rotating the tube axially, means for controlling the speed of the shafts and the tube in a forward and in a reverse direction relative to each other for causing the individual seats of the seat units to travel in a great variety of different ellipsoidal and cusp paths, and means for effecting access to and exit from the seats of each seat unit.

7. The structure as of claim 6 and in which thelast named means comprises a loading platform of annular, contour for each seat unit concentric with thel axis of rotation of the seat unit, a central platform at the bottom of the center pele accessibleto the seat unit platforms, and ramps leading tothe centeriplatform.

8. In a merry go round, a stationary center pole having an enlarged lower end forming a bearing, a tube rotatably mounted on the bearing and held against sidesway by the bearing, means suspending vthe tube from the top of the pole, seat unit shafts spaced laterally from the pole in upright position, means suspending the shafts, from `the top of the center pole and from the tube to rotate in a planetarypath around the'center pole, a plurality of seats forming each seat unitsupported from the bottom of a respective rseat unit shaft and movable in a circular path around the seat unit shaft when the shaft is rotated axially, means for rotating the seat unit shafts axially, means for rotating the tube axially, and` means for controlling the speed of the shafts and] thetubein a forward and in a reverse directiongrelative to each other for causing theindividual seats of theseat units to travel in a great variety of different ellipsoidal and cusp paths. p

. RICHARD H. HARRIS. 

